Ay'lonit (איילונית) is a gender from Jewish culture where one was assigned female at birth, but develops male characteristics later in life. This was likely used to describe individuals with certain intersex variations in which, upon puberty, one does not develop common female characteristics. In modern terms this can be interpreted either as a transgender man, an intersex individual, and some transsex/altersex people. Some trans, non-binary, altersex, or intersex Jewish individuals find that the term ay'lonit fits their experience.
In Jewish sacred texts there are six different genders identified. These are:
- "Zachar", someone who is identified as male at birth and presents as male later in life. This would be considered to be a cisgender man today.
- "Nekeivah", someone who is identified as female at birth and presents as female later in life. This would be considered a cisgender woman today.
- "Ay'lonit", someone who is identified as female at birth but shows male characteristics later in life. This can be considered a transgender man in today's terms.
Alternate Ay'lonit flag - "Saris", someone who is identified as male at birth but shows female characteristics later in life. This can be considered a transgender woman in today's terms.
- "Androgynos", someone who has both male and female sexual characteristics. This would refer to certain intersex variations, but in terms of gender in the modern day it is closest to androgyne or bigender.
- "Tumtum", someone whose sexual characteristics are indeterminate or obscured. This would also refer to intersex variations, but in terms of gender it is closest to agender.
Ay'lonit is a culturally exclusive gender, specific to Jewish culture and should not be used by those not of that culture.
Flag
The ay'lonit flag was designed by Tumblr user Bigfootrights on November 8, 2019. The colors were chosen with homage to the daytime and dawn. The gradient reflects the spectrum of identities that those who may be an ay'lonit can possess.[1]
The alternate ay'lonit flag was designed by Tumblr user femmesupportgroup (tw for anti-mogai/exclus content) on October 3rd, 2019. The meanings are Red for femininity/being assigned female, Yellow for being Intersex, Blue for jews, and a black Intersex circle in the middle.[2]